Lucknow: In a key bureaucratic development, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has promoted two senior IAS officers of the 1993 batch – Alok Kumar-II and Veena Kumari – to the prestigious rank of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS). With this, both officers have been placed in the Apex Scale (Level 17) of the Pay Matrix, marking their induction into the highest echelons of the state administration.
Who Are the Promoted Officers?
Alok Kumar-II (IAS:1993:UP)
Prior to this promotion, he was serving as Principal Secretary across multiple key departments including-
- MSME & Export Promotion
- Infrastructure & Industrial Development
- NRI Department
Alok Kumar-II has played a significant role in shaping the state’s policies on industrial infrastructure and export-led growth.
Veena Kumari (IAS:1993:UP)
Veena Kumari was serving as Principal Secretary of–
- Sugar Industries & Cane Development Department
- Excise Department
She has been instrumental in managing sugar industry reforms, cane pricing mechanisms, and excise regulation – sectors critical to rural and revenue dynamics in UP.
Significance of the Promotion
The Apex Scale (Level-17) is the highest non-political rank in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) at the state level. This promotion is a recognition of the officers’ three decades of administrative service, marked by their performance in policy formulation, sectoral leadership, and governance.
Such promotions are typically seniority-based, occurring periodically when officers meet the eligibility for the top pay scale based on service duration, performance, and available vacancies.
